Bathing cap



Oct. 24, 1933. M. E. RHODES BATHINGCAP Filed June- 16, 1952 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to bathing caps, and it is an object of the invention to provide a cap of this kind with means along the marginal portion thereof to form a watertight seal when the cap is applied upon the head of a person.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a cap of this kind wherein an air cushion is disposed around the interior of the cap at the mar- 'ginal portion thereof for contact wtih the head of the wearer to assure a watertight seal, said cushion being so constructed as to hold a quantity of air in a manner whereby such air may readily shift to points of least resistance so that the cushion at such points will have sufficient expansion to effect the desired sealing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide along the marginal portion of a cap of this kind a cushion preferably of a pneumatic type constructed in a manner where the outer portion of the cushion is free to serve as a. flap to increase the desired sealing as a result of the action of water endeavoring to pass between the cap and the head of the wearer and wherein the inner portion of the cushion serves as a second flap which is forced against the head of the wearer as a result of pressure of air within the applied cap created from striking the water as in diving or when swimming with the head in submergence.

The invention consists inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bathing cap whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to described the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective with a por-- tion broken away of a bathing cap constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the pad or cushion as herein embodied, the associated cap being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a'; fragmentary view in perspective looking withinithe cap.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, C

" denotes a bathing cap of elastic material and which is shaped to fit the general contour of the head. The free marginal portion of the cap has disposed therealong within the cap C a continuous air cushion or pad P also of elastic material and which in its structure confines or retains a certain amount of what may be termed dead air". By this it is to be understood that the pad or cushion P is not to be inflated. v

This pad or cushion P is in the form of a tube having disposed around its inner portion a continuous and relatively broad channel or corrugation 1 which, when the pad or cushion P is in applied position, results normally in the central portion of the pad or cushion being of relatively slight depth while the marginal portions of the cushion are provided with continuous enlargements 2.

In applying the pad or cushion within the cap C the portion thereof opposed to the groove or corrugation 1 is adhesively or otherwise secured, as at 3, to the inner face of the cap at the marginal portion thereof and With the outer part of the applied pad or cushion P substantially flush with the edge of the cap. The outer rounded portion of the applied pad or cushion provides between said portion of the pad or cushion and the edge portion of the cap what may be termed a continuous pocket a so that the outer portion of the pad or cushion P will operate after the fashion of a flap under the action of the waves or other water pressure while in bathing to force the pad or cushion further against the head of the user whereby an additional action is provided to prevent water passing between the cap and the head.

When the cap is applied upon the head the pad or cushion P will not be compressed at all points therealong as illustrated in the sectional portions of Figure 3 as this compression to a considerable extent will depend upon the contour or formation of the head of the user. In practice, it has been found that at points around the head the pad or cushion will have lighter contact than at other portions. In connection with these portions of lighter contact, when in bathing, the action of the waves or water against these portions of lighter contact will be received within the adjacent portions of the pocket a with-the result that the pressure of this action of the water will tend to further compress these portions of lighter contact of the pad against the head of the wearer whereby ingress of water into the cap is prevented.

The inner rounded portion of the applied pad or cushion also provides a second or inner flap which as a result of the compression of air within the applied-cap will also serve to cause the pad or cushion to effect a further seal against the passage of water. This is particularly advantageous when making a dive or swimming with the head in submergence.

It is believed to be readily apparent that the cross section of the applied pad or cushion P is such as not to confine or retain any considerable amount of air, yet as the cap is applied to the head the air within the pad or cushion will readily flow to the points of least resistance in the pad or cushion whereby the same will be caused to have effective contact withthe head and in a manner to readily compensate for any surface irregularities.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a bathing cap constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and used, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

An article of bathing apparel comprising a body shaped to conform to the general contour of the portion of the person to which it is to be applied and having a free marginal edge, a cushion secured to the inner face of the body along said free marginal edge, said cushion comprising an elastic tube retaining air, the wall of the applied cushion remote from the marginal edge of the body having a corrugation extending around the cushion, said corrugation resulting in the central portion of the cushion being normally of relatively slight depth while the marginal portions of the cushion are provided with continuous enlargements, the outer portion of the cushion being free from the body to provide a continuous pocket between the edge portion of the body and the outer portion of the cushion, the wall of the corrugation being spaced at all points from the inner wall portion of the tube.

MILDRED E. RHODES. 

